Timing apparatus



June 15, 1943. 'M. R. THOMA 2,321,876

TIMING APPARATUS I Filed 00L 6, 1941. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l Maurie/e fi.Thoma ATTORNEY Patented June 15, 1943 TIMING APPARATUS Maurice RusselThoma, Boonville, Mo.

Application October 6, 1941, Serial No. 413,892

4 Claims.

This invention relates to timing apparatus and more particularly to anapparatus for timing the flight of pigeons entered in a race.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus ofthis character, wherein the construction thereof enables accurate timingof the flight of a pigeon,'particularly when racing the same, andeliminates the possibility of the owner of a pigeon entered in the race,from making false representation of the registering of the time consumedthereby, when traveling from a starting to a finishing point.

i Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus thatincludes a timepiece, such as a watch of the usual spring wound type,and which is confined within an enclosure or case, in a manner toeliminate any possibility of tampering therewith, for falsifying, as tothe time of the flight, and the stopping and starting of the timepieceis accomplished in a novel manner.

Afurther object of the invention is the provision of a timing apparatusthat is primarily designed for use in pigeon racing, it being usual tohave the pigeons which participate in a race registered therefor, andeach bird carries an identification band on its leg for that purpose, sothat by the use of the apparatus, together with the band, the time ofthe flight can be accurately determined for official registeringpurposes.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatusof this character, which is designed to be officially closed and sealedbefore the start of a race, and upon the finish of the race, theregistered identifying band worn on the leg of the bird is removed anddeposited within the apparatus, and upon such deposit, the timepiece orwatch is not only rendered active, but the band cannot be removed, norcan the watch be stopped, until the seal is broken for the purpose ofascertaining the running time of the watch and said running time is usedin calculating the time of the finish of the flight, so that the timeconsumed by the bird in making the flight, can be ascertained.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatusof this character which is compact in form, simple in construction,thoroughly reliable and efiicient in operation, foolproof, eliminatessurreptitious tampering therewith, and is likewise inexpensive tomanufacture.

This invention also consists in certain other features of constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to behereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of the apparatus constructed in accordancewith the present in-' vention.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the lid of the case inopen position.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken approximately on line 3-3 of Figure2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the apparatus.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 5-5 of Figure3.

Figure 6 is an edge elevation of one of the watches employed in the formshown, and illustrates the watch partly in section.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 1'| of Figure1.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7, with the parts in latchedposition,

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the stop means for each watch or clockemployed in the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be noted that the form ofapparatus shown is designed for two watches, but it can be made for anynumber, or for a single watch or other timepiece. In any event, theapparatus shown includes a rectangular case it preferably made fromsheet metal and equipped with a vertically swingable cover or lid Hhinged as at I2 to the ends of the case It! for free swinging movement.Disposed within the case l0 in side by side relation, is a pair ofwatches l3 and M respectively, eachbeing identical and of the usualspring wound type and windable and set by a crown stem I5, that isreadily accessible for that purpose when the holder l6 for the watchesis removed from the case, as such is necessary for the inspection of thedials of the watches, in that the watches are mounted within the holder,in a manner whereby when the latter is disposed within the case, thedials face the bottom wall thereof, as

best shown in Figure 3. Each watch I3 and it includes hour and minutehands I! and 18 respectively, for traversing the dial l9 thereof, aswell as a second hand 20 that traverses its dial, as indicated in Figure4. The holder 16 of the watches is provided with a cover or concealingplate 2| which overlies the watches when the holder l6 carrying the sameis placed within the case I0, so that the watches are hid from view whenthe lid H of the case I is in open position.

The plate 2| of the holder I6 is shaped to fit within the case I!) andthe holder is readily applicable and removable with respect thereto.Suitable means is provided for removably securing the watches within theholder, as clearly shown in Figure 3.

The usual lids of the watches are removed, as they are not used when thewatches are employed with my apparatus, and a strip 22 isprovided foreach watch, the strip being fixed to the closure plate of the gear trainof the watch, and secured to the strip 22 is one end of a stop triggerthat includes a spring finger 22' having a pin 23 secured to anddepending from its free end for engagement with the balance wheel of thewatch for stopping the same. For that purpose, the spring finger isengaged by the free portion of a right angled bent arm 24 that has anupturned end portion fixed to a pivoted latching detent 25 that has itspivot 26 fixed to the plate 2|, and the upturned end portion of the arm24 works through an opening in the plate 2|. The arm 24 is normally heldelevated from the spring finger by a coil spring 21 sleeved about theupturned portion of the arm, and the spring 21 also normally holds thedetent 25 elevated to a latching position for disposal in the path of ashutter or closure slide member 28 that is slidably mounted within aninverted channel shaped guide 29 fixed to and rising from the plate 2|of the holder I6. The guide 29 is of a length coextensive with that ofthe width of the plate 2|, to engage the front and rear Walls of thecase I0, to provide a receptacle for housing the identification band,not shown, when removed from the leg of a pigeon, upon completion of thenight. The top 30 of the guide 29 is provided with a circular opening 3|and an elongated opening 32. The circular opening 3| affords access tothe detent 25, while the opening 32 has projecting therethrough a fingerknob 33 fixed to and rising from the shutter 28, for sliding the latteralong the length of the guide 29, a distance within the limits of thelength of the opening 32, as will be apparent upon inspection of Figures'7 and 8, which likewise illustrates that the shutter 28 is heldelevated above theplate 2| by suitable supporting means, so that theshutter 28 is in constant engagement with the under face of the guide29, to bring about complete closing of the opening 32.

, The shutter 28 is held in its latched position toclose the opening 32,by the detent 25, as shown in Figure 8, and when in that position, thedetent holds the arm 24 elevated so that it will be out of engagementwith the balance wheel of its watch, and thus the watch will be running.To release the detent from latched engagement with the shutter, it isnecessary to use a push pin, stick or the like 34, that may beconveniently carried within the case I0 and in use, the stick is to beinserted through the opening 3| to apply pressure against the detent torelease the shutter 28 so that it can be moved through the medium of itsknob 33, over and onto the detent 25 for holding the latter in depressedposition, as shown in Figure 7. When the detent is depressed, the pin 23on the free end of the spring finger 22' engagesthe balance wheel of thewatch and stops the running thereof.

The lid or cover H has formed therein elongated openings 35, there beingan opening 35 for each of the openings 32, and the openings 35 arearranged to register with the openings 32, when.

the lid is disposed to closed position, as clearly shown in Figures 7and 8, which likewise illustrates that the finger knobs 33 of theshutters 28 extend through the openings 35, to bring about movement ofthe shutters 28 when the lid II is in closed position.

The lid is releasably fastened in a closed position, preferably by ascrew bolt 36, for disposal of the shank thereof through an opening in afront flange 31 formed onv the lid I for. the shank to be threaded in athreaded opening in the front wall of the case, as best shown in Figure4, and

the screw bolt is held against unauthorized removal by a wire typesealing element 38, which of course will serve as an indicator ifbroken, and thus be indicative of the fact that the apparatus has beensurreptitiously handled.

In order that the manner in which my apparatus is generally used, willbe clearly understood, it is deemed advisable to state that pigeon racesare conducted by bird clubs which of course have racing as one of theobjects thereof, and eachmember having'a bird or birds in a racepossessesone of the apparatus. Prior to the race, the members having abird or birds entered therein, applies one of the identifying bands tothe leg of the bird, the band being preferably of rubber to allow easyapplication and removal, and it also is provided with a number or otheridentification means which is recorded at the club headis entered in therace, brings his timing apparatusto headquarters, where it is set andsealed bye, designated committee. For that purpose, the lid ll of thecase In is opened and the holder- IS with the watches therein is removedfrom the case The watches are wound in the usual manner,.it beingunderstood that the watches are running at that time. In order to stopthe watches, the push pin 34 is inserted into the opening 3| of each ofthe guides 29, for pushing the detent against.

the arm 24 which in turn will lower the pin 23 in engagement with thebalance Wheel and thereby stop the watch. Each of the watches is thenset, with the minute and hour hands thereof on exactly twelve oclock,and it is desired that the watch be stopped so that the second hand willpoint to the numeral 60.

Figure 7, and the holder together with the watches therein is thenreplaced in the casing. When the watches are replaced, it will beobvious that the opening 32 of each guide is fully open.

to allow for the passage of the bands therein. The apparatus is thenclosed, locked and sealed and is therefore ready for use, and the memberthen takes the same to the home loft of the pigeon.

The pigeons are released at a designated time and upon arrival of thefirst pigeon at it home loft, the owner catches the same, removes theingthat the apparatus that includes two watches is used.

The opening 3| is then, closed by sliding the shutter to the positionof.

It is a general rule in all bird clubs that after a member has timed hisfirst bird, the apparatus must be turned into club headquarters withinone hour, regardless of whether the second bird has arrived. When theapparatus is turned in, the seals are examined by the committee to seethat they are intact and have not been tampered with, then they arebroken and the lid is opened. The official in charge of the race theninstructs the members to stop the watch or watches of the apparatus whenhe calls time for that purpose, the oflicial using a suitable timepiece,and it will be obvious that the Watches of the apparatus are stopped bythe use of the push pin 34 and upon sliding the shutter over the detentto hold the pin in engagement with the flywheel. After the watches havebeen stopped, they are removed from the casing through the medium of theholder, to allow removal of the identification band and the band ischecked with the records. Reading is then taken from a Watch in thefollowing manner. For example the oilicial calls a stop when his watchis exactly fifty-eight minutes and thirty-six seconds past elevenoclock. One of the contestants watches reads twentyeight minutes andthirty-five seconds past two oclock, and upon deducting the reading timeof the contestants Watch from that of the reading time of the ofiicialswatch, it will be ascertained that the contestants bird arrived at itshome loft thirty minutes and one second past nine oclock. In order toascertain the exact flying time of the bird, from its starting point toits home loft, it will be obvious that the time on which the birdstarted is deducted from the time on which it arrived at the home loft,or in other words, the time of arrival of the bird in the example givenis thirty minutes and one second after nine oclock. Assuming that thebird was released at thirty minutes and one second after eight oclock,the exact flying me will be one hour.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages andnovel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction andin the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided thatsuch changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A timing apparatus comprising a case havin a releasible coverprovided with an opening, a watch mechanism having a balance wheel, aholder for said watch mechanism and insertable in the case, a guidearranged with said holder and having spaced openings, one of theopenings for registering with the opening in the cover, a slide movablein the guide and closing the opening registering with the opening in thecover, and mechanism manually operated through the other opening in saidguide and engaging the balance wheel for stopping the running of thewatch mechanism and locking the slide against movement.

2. A timing apparatus comprising a case having a releasible coverprovided with an opening, a watch mechanism having a balance wheel, aholder for said watch mechanism and insertable in the case, a guidearranged with said holder and having spaced openings, one of theOpenings for registering with the opening in the cover, a slide movablein the guide and closing the opening registering with the opening in thecover, mechanism manually operated through the other opening in saidguide and engaging the balance wheel for stopping the running of thewatch mechanism and locking the slide against movement, and means forsealing the cover closed and giving access only to the opening in theguide in register with the opening in said cover.

3. A timing apparatus comprising a, case having a releasible coveprovided with an opening, a watch mechanism having a balance wheel, aholder for said watch mechanism and insertable in the case, a guidearranged with said holder and having spaced openings, one of theopenings for registering with the opening in the cover, a slide movablein the guide and closing the opening registering with the opening in thecover, mechanism manually operated through the other opening in saidguide and engaging the balance wheel for stopping the running of thewatch mechanism and locking the slide against movement, means forsealing the cover closed and giving access only to the opening in theguide in register with the opening in said cover, and a concealing plateassociated with the holder and guide for entirely covering the saidholder and concealing it when within the case.

4. A timing apparatus of the character described, comprising a case, aremovable cover for said case and having an opening, a watch mechanismin the bottom of the case having a balance wheel, a horizontal partitionabove the watch mechanism, a pivoted lever carried by the upper face ofthe partition, spring means for normally holding the lever in an upwardposition, an arm normally upwardly spring held passing through thepartition and engaging the lever, means operated by the arm upon itsdownward movement to engage the balance wheel and stop the same, ahorizontal partition adjacent the upper end of the case and having anopening registering with the opening in the cover, a second openinarranged above the lever, and a shutter sliding on the first mentionedpartition and provided with an arm extending through the opening in thesecond partition and the opening in the cover, said shutter held againstmovement by the pivoted lever whereby the same may be moved upon thedepression of the lever by a downward movement of an instrument passedthrough the second opening in the second partition.

MAURICE RUSSEL THOIVIA.

